Thank you for all that you've done for me over the past year. You've grown by leaps and bounds, introduced me to new and wonderful people from around the globe, and proven to me that the old "third time's a charm" adage really does ring true.

Working on you has been at times both wonderful and tedious, but I think we've finally hit our stride. I can't wait to make you even better in the years to come.

April 28, 2011

I'm not going to know what to do with myself when this is over! (I love that Harry calls Voldy "Tom" so blatantly. Does he in the book? I can't remember. But it's so badass.)

In other HP news, it was only a matter of time ...

Why yes, I am a Ravenclaw. *wink*

In TV news:

The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are coming to a TV near you—in HD. The other day, I found out that my mom thought Labyrinth was an excellent movie (which it is, but I didn't realize this until college). I was like, since when? The things you learn ...

I don't really know who this guy is, or why it's a big deal that he's no longer in The Hobbit, but the picture that goes along with this story is ridiculously random: Peter Jackson reveals a hobbit's exit.

April 27, 2011

I've been seeing this meme/survey pop up on the blogosphere lately (most recently at Wattlebird), and I thought it would be a great way to transition from the first half of this week into the second. Easy, and yet both entertaining and informative (maybe?). And oh-so-reminiscent of my college years. So here goes.

GPOY, feeling the mid-week sleepies

Age: 27

Bed size: Queen. I really think we need a new one, however, since I've had this one since high school. (Ew?)

Kids: Eventually, yes. But I've got a good decade left, at least according to the ages at which my mom and both my grandmothers had kids.

Live: Austin, TX.

Mom's name: Cheryl.

Nickname: Mandy is acually a nickname, for Amanda. But I also go/have gone by Pants, Mama Mandy, one half of The Murtis, Manders, Mando, Mandustries, Mandalay, Mandalay Industries, Mandolin, Manderpants ... pretty much anything that starts with m-a-n.

Overnight hospital stays: Never. Unless you count when I was born. I've gone to the emergency room late at night for myself and for others, however.

Pet peeve: Improper grammar. Tailgaiting. The inability to listen before arguing/jumping to conclusions (which I myself am guilty of from time to time).

Quote:"I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream."—Vincent Van Gogh

"Something doesn't make sense ... let's go and poke it with a stick."—The Doctor

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."—Roald Dahl

Right or left handed: Right.

Siblings: None, officially. I have a lovely SIL and BIL, however, who I adore.

Time you wake up: Between 5:40 and 6:10 on weekdays, 8:00 or later on weekends.

Underwear: Every day? Clean?

Vegetables you dislike: Sun-dried tomatoes. Although, those are a fruit ...

What makes you run late: Me being too picky about myself.

X-rays you've had done: Teeth, hand ... I had an MRI on my brain, too, which sort of counts.

April 26, 2011

When out to dinner with our good friends the other night, I was reminded of one of my favorite parts of the 90s Disney's One Saturday Morning, the short cartoon Mrs. Munger's Class.

I've thought about this cartoon over the years, and once scoured the Internet for clips, finding very little. When I did a search this past weekend, however, I hit the motherload. Does anyone else remember this cartoon?

A little background:

Mrs. Munger's Class was two seasons of brief, 90-second skits on Disney's One Saturday Morning on ABC that featured the talking heads of a middle school yearbook page. The kids in the photos would often exchange silly dialogue and insults, while Mrs. Munger would tell them to "Simmer down! Simmer! Simmer!" The camera would focus on whoever was speaking on one part of the yearbook page and quickly pan to follow the dialogue. Students would move between the pictures to interact with one another. The show was in black and white, but color was used on occasion (on field trips or to show cosmetics). (via)

(I wear four rings every day: my three-ring wedding set and a claddagh my parents gave me years ago. I don't really wear other rings frequently, and yet I long for unique options. For when I feel the need to spice things up.)

Tickets to a Michael Bublé concert.

(Even if he comes across a bit smarmy to some, I adore his voice and his songs. Also, trying to find art for this, I just found that he'll be in Austin in June. Hmm ...)

My very own TARDIS.

(It would make things SO much easier. And more complex, but that's the fun of it!)

Have you run across anything don't-want-to-live-without-fabulous recently?

April 22, 2011

I know it's not Thanksgiving, but I have a lot of things to be thankful for this weekend. Three day weekends. Good health. Spending time with family. My lovely blog friends. Celebrating being married to the love of my life for six months.

I hope all of you have such wonderful things to be thankful for as well! Happy weekend, happy Easter, happy love!

April 21, 2011

I'd like to start off this issue of NN with a little tribute. I was saddened to hear that Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and The Adventures of SJS spin-off, died this week, far too young.